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Chapter 307 The Devil Is Right Beside Us
Fang Cheng's "gaze" passed through Xu Hao's pupils, surveying the surroundings.

This is a luxuriously decorated lounge area, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking rows of skyscrapers.

This indicates that the location should be in an office building in the city center CBD.

A thick, dark red carpet lay beneath my feet, leading to a deep and quiet corridor.

At the far end, a heavy, half-open conference room door is faintly visible.

There were also many guards in suits and sunglasses around.

Each of them was burly and stood motionless like a sculpture.

They are clearly highly trained elites within the organization.

But these people were completely unaware that an extra pair of eyes were silently watching them.

Fang Cheng turned his attention back to Xu Hao and could clearly sense his slightly uneasy mood.

Beside him was a man with a hairstyle that looked like he was wearing a helmet, his appearance somewhat comical, but his eyes held a shrewdness.

"Brother Yu."

Xu Hao spoke casually, glancing at his companion as if trying to glean something from him:
"I heard this meeting is very important. Even headquarters sent people? You're well-informed, do you know anything inside?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of smugness flashed in Liu Yu's eyes.

But he quickly composed himself, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously:

"Brother Hao, you've come to the right person. I've heard that this operation is no small matter and is related to the future treatment of our Dongdu branch."

"Whether we can get a chance to show our faces in front of that important person depends on this opportunity."

"If you do well, promotions and raises, beautiful women and luxury cars will be yours for the taking! If you don't do well..."

He deliberately dragged out his words and made a throat-slitting gesture.

Xu Hao's expression changed slightly, and he chuckled dryly twice:
"I see. It seems this is indeed a big job."

He secretly planned that he should listen more and speak less when he went in, so as not to become cannon fodder without knowing the reason.

The two walked side by side toward the conference room.

Xu Hao continued to fidget with the few strands of hair that were fixed in place with hair gel on his forehead, trying to make himself look more like a "senior elite of the organization".

But a question lingered in my mind:
"Have you been under too much pressure lately? You're not only having hallucinations, but you also don't look as elegant as before."

"That's not right. I just started practicing the Great Sun Burning Body Technique. My energy and spirit should be more abundant..."

Fang Cheng listened with great interest to Xu Hao's inner monologue, a slight smile playing on his lips.

This feeling is truly wonderful, as if watching a movie where the protagonist has their own internal monologue.

As they spoke, the two quickly arrived at the conference room door.

The massive double mahogany doors were half-open, from which came a buzzing sound, like a swarm of bees buzzing in a hive.

Xu Hao was the first to step inside.

Fang Cheng's perspective also broadened considerably.

This is a much brighter and more spacious space than the outside corridor.

A huge oval mahogany conference table was placed in the center of the room, its surface polished to a mirror shine, clearly reflecting the luxurious crystal chandelier on the ceiling.

The soft light poured down, but it couldn't dispel the subtle tension in the air.

At this moment, a dozen or so people were scattered around the conference table, and a few others were gathered in twos and threes in a corner, talking quietly.

Occasionally, a cough could be heard, along with the faint buzzing of electronic devices.

That's an anti-eavesdropping detector in operation.

Looking around, almost everyone present was male, all dressed in suits, but with different expressions.

Some looked relaxed and chatted happily, while others had furrowed brows and serious expressions.

Others crossed their arms over their chests, closed their eyes to rest, seemingly indifferent to everything around them.

Without exception, these people all exuded a faint killing intent and their blood and qi fluctuations were far beyond those of ordinary people.

With a slight focus of his consciousness, Fang Cheng could clearly perceive that at least three or four auras on the scene were significantly stronger and more refined than those of the others around him.

These people should be the core cadres of the Noah Organization's Dongdu branch.

"Hey, isn't this Mouse? What a rare guest!"

A slightly mocking voice suddenly rang out, breaking the somewhat dull atmosphere in the conference room.

Xu Hao looked in the direction of the sound and immediately put on a smile.

Fang Cheng's gaze followed Xu Hao's and landed on the man who had spoken.

On the side of the conference table by the window, a man wearing a flashy silk shirt was waving at him.

The shirt featured a tropical rainforest pattern, with various brightly colored flowers and birds whose names I didn't know printed on it, creating a striking contrast with the group of people in black suits around it.

The man had shoulder-length, slightly wavy hair that was casually draped over his shoulders, and he wore a pair of large, brown, frog-like sunglasses that he didn't take off even in the dimly lit indoor environment.

His lips habitually curled upwards, holding a hint of cynical and carefree smile.

"Brother Biao, you're here too? I thought someone as busy as you wouldn't bother with such a small event as ours!"

Xu Hao laughed and walked towards the man in the floral shirt without any hesitation, shouting loudly as he went.

The man Xu Hao called "Brother Biao" was one of the powerful auras that Fang Cheng had sensed earlier.

His name is Ma Biao, nicknamed "Tattooed Arm Biao". He is an 8th-level cadre in the Noah Organization and is considered a local bigwig and veteran in the Dongdu branch.

Fang Cheng learned from Xu Hao's memories that Ma Biao was lazy and lacked ambition, and was the kind of stubborn and unyielding person in the organization.

He enjoys playing with cats and dogs, eating, drinking, and having fun, and often outwardly complies with the organization's rules and regulations while inwardly disobeying them.

Senior leaders had a lot of headaches about him and tried several times to transfer him away from the comfortable place of Dongdu, but all of these attempts failed because of his deep-rooted local connections and some unclear "personal relationships".

But it is precisely because of his down-to-earth personality that he gets along well with many middle and lower-level members in the organization. He is the kind of person who has many brothers under his command and can command a large following.

"Screw you! No matter how busy I am, I still have to give Station Chief Feng and the Imperial Envoy face, don't I?"

Ma Biao chuckled and cursed, then pointed to an empty seat next to him.

"Come on, Haozi, sit here with me, let's have a good chat."

Xu Hao, however, felt something was amiss and couldn't help but curse inwardly, "Who is that tattooed guy calling a rat?"

His smile widened even more: "Oh, that's wonderful! It's my honor to sit next to Brother Biao!"

Without any hesitation, he plopped down in the empty seat next to Ma Biao.

Listening to Xu Hao's insincere words, Fang Cheng was speechless. This guy wasn't exactly an honest person either.

"Brother Biao, your outfit is getting more and more flamboyant."

Xu Hao looked at Ma Biao's floral shirt and clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Absolutely! What's the difference between life and a salted fish if you don't live it to the fullest and enjoy yourself?"

Ma Biao shook his head smugly, causing his long hair to flutter.

"Besides, wearing a black suit is so damn oppressive, like attending a funeral. I can't stand that kind of suffering."

As he spoke, he pulled a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket, took one out, and handed it to Xu Hao. "Here, Haozi, try this good stuff I got from Southeast Asia, it's strong!"

Xu Hao took the cigarette, and Ma Biao then took out a uniquely shaped metal lighter and leaned over to light it for him.

The two began puffing on cigarettes, completely ignoring the prominent "No Smoking" sign on the conference room wall.

The people around seemed unsurprised by this; only a few frowned but said nothing.

Through Xu Hao's senses, Fang Cheng smelled a strong aroma of tobacco mixed with special spices, which was slightly pungent but did have an unusually refreshing effect.

"Haozi, I heard you're doing pretty well with the Red Tiger Gang lately?"

Ma Biao took a drag of his cigarette, squinted at Xu Hao, and spoke with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"That idiot surnamed He from the Red Tiger Gang just died without any explanation. Now the gang is just left with only the half-dead old ghost Lin holding things together."

"I've heard that Chen Chen, the leader of the Red Tiger Gang, is quite fond of you and intends to have you take over Old He's position as a guardian elder!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Hao couldn't help but reveal a smug smile, but he humbly replied:
"Not at all, Brother Biao, you flatter me too much."

"I'm just a minor hall master. I'm not qualified for such a high position as a Dharma Protector Elder."

"Besides, although Protector Lin is unwell, his prestige is still intact. The affairs of the Red Tiger Gang still have to be decided by him."

"Tch, don't give me that nonsense."

Ma Biao curled his lip in disdain:

"What Chen Chen is up to, do you think I don't know?"

"He's got his eye on you because you're a newcomer, fair-skinned and cute, and he wants to recruit you to be his backer."

Seeing this, Liu Yu, who was standing nearby, quickly chimed in:
"Brother Biao, you don't know, Brother Hao is at the height of his power in the Red Tiger Gang, he's incredibly influential. Chen Chen often consults with him and seeks his advice on many things in the gang."

Although Liu Yu's words had a hint of flattery, they also revealed some of the truth.

Several familiar members gathered around and started discussing it amongst themselves.

"Yeah, Brother Biao, Haozi is having a blast right now. He's the one living the best life among us, chasing girls and gambling on Pai Gow every day."

"Damn, you make so much money in gangs, and you're wearing a cheap suit to a meeting? Are you trying to be stingy? When are you going to treat everyone to a party?"

Xu Hao was overwhelmed by the barrage of comments from the crowd, and a forced smile appeared on his face.

In his mind, he cursed these guys' ancestors for eighteen generations:
"Damn it, even if I had money, I wouldn't tell you bunch of poor bastards!"

Fang Cheng, however, learned a lot of useful information from their conversation.

One of the two guardian elders of the Red Tiger Gang is He Jingang, a muscular man who practices martial arts with great strength.

He's the guy who, on the eve of New Year's Eve, teamed up with "Ghost" to capture Fang Cheng, only to have his head smashed by Fang Cheng's punch.

The other is Lin Xuan, who is skilled in mental mysticism. It is said that he suffered severe mental trauma during a certain mission and has been acting erratically ever since. He has been in seclusion and it is hard to say whether he can recover.

The Red Tiger Gang is currently facing a severe shortage of high-end combat power, and its leader, Chen Chen, is eager to introduce new forces to stabilize the situation.

Xu Hao, as one of the more outstanding new members of the organization, and also having connections with the Red Tiger Gang, naturally became a key candidate for development.

If he can make a contribution in this operation, being promoted to a level 7 cadre and becoming a Dharma Protector Elder is almost a certainty.

Through everyone's conversation and Xu Hao's inner thoughts, Fang Cheng also gained a preliminary understanding of the Noah Organization's power in Dongdu.

Although there weren't many people present today, this was almost the majority of the mid-to-high-level elite forces that the Dongdu branch could mobilize.

The Noah Organization's internal structure resembles that of a large, multinational corporation with a strict hierarchy.

Member levels range from level 1 to level 13, clearly defined.

Levels 1 to 3 are all considered ordinary employees, not even formal members.

They are mainly responsible for odd jobs and errands, and their numbers are large, but they have little actual combat power.

Combat personnel start at level 4, possessing superior physical abilities compared to ordinary people, thus truly entering the organization's threshold, but still belonging to the lower class.

Levels 5 and 6 are the organization's elite core members or junior management, possessing certain authority and resources, and holding special positions in various departments or branches around the world.

Xu Hao, for example, is currently at level 6 and holds the position of hall master thanks to his connections within the Red Tiger Gang.

If he performs well in this operation, or if Protector Lin of the Red Tiger Gang is completely finished, he will very likely be promoted directly to Protector Elder.

Then the status of the East Capital branch will be different again, and it will be able to obtain more resources and rights.

Although Liu Yu joined the organization earlier than Xu Hao, he was only at level 5 at the moment, which is why he was so polite to Xu Hao, calling him "Brother Hao" repeatedly.

At level 7, one can serve as the captain of an action team or hold certain important positions, possessing a certain degree of command authority, like the two guardian elders of the Red Tiger Gang.

At level 8, one can serve as a squadron leader, department head, or the head of a local branch, managing affairs in one area, as was the case with Ma Biao.

Reaching level 9 means becoming a captain, or someone who can take charge of an important stronghold like the East Capital branch, wielding real power and becoming a key cadre close to the highest levels within the organization.

Station Chief Feng, the head of the Dongdu branch, is a level 9.

As for Level 10, that's a ministerial-level bigwig, qualified to enter the company's "board of directors" and participate in the formulation of core decisions. They are considered very important figures in the entire Noah organization.

Level 11 and above are legendary figures; members of Xu Hao's level rarely even have the chance to hear about them.

The Noah Organization has a very wide reach in the Xia Kingdom.

The Eastern Capital Branch, due to its special geographical location and economic and political status, can be said to be a strategic focus of the organization within the entire Xia Kingdom's sphere of influence.

Its level and the importance it receives far surpass those of other ordinary branches, such as small outposts like Yong'an Island.

Therefore, everyone who is sitting here to attend this meeting today is an elite member of the organization, and if they were sent to other places, they would all be capable of handling things independently.

"Speaking of which..."

A voice lowered slightly, with a barely perceptible tremor:

"The death of Protector He of the Red Tiger Gang was too tragic. I heard that his head was smashed open with a single punch and thrown into a garbage pit dozens of meters deep. The murderer was too cruel."

As they talked, the conversation turned to the target of today's meeting: that mysterious expert.

The other person then chimed in:

"That's right! Our former head of the intelligence department in the Eastern Capital branch, 'Ghost,' was a genius who advanced to level 8 in his early twenties!"

"His invisibility and shadow clone techniques are so advanced that we can't even touch his shadow during training."

"And what happened? He still fell at the hands of that murderous demon! Even the Ghost Boss was defeated. Just who is that guy? It's enough to send chills down your spine."

"Shh, keep your voice down!"

Someone nearby quickly stopped him: "Don't gossip. There's a gag order from above regarding Boss Ghost's affairs."

Even so, the fear in everyone's eyes towards that mysterious expert was impossible to conceal.

Although they were all elites within the organization and were usually people who lived on the edge, the fear in their hearts was real when faced with an existence that could easily wipe out even a level 8 master.

Just as everyone was discussing and the atmosphere was lively yet somewhat oppressive.

A cold voice suddenly broke in, like a bucket of cold water being poured in:
"A bunch of rabble who have already scared themselves before they've even started anything."

"That so-called 'murderous demon' is nothing but a cowardly rat hiding in the shadows. Is he really worth all this fuss about?"

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tall, arrogant young man standing not far from them.

He wore a sharp silver-gray suit, his hair was neatly combed, his eyes were sharp as an eagle, and there was always a hint of disdain at the corner of his mouth.

(End of this chapter)